It was the Maths exam — 

Hiten sat right beside Aarya, his back straight, his expression calm. The clock ticked above them, its second hand slicing the silence in steady beats. Aarya’s brow furrowed as she stared at a problem that looked nothing like what she had studied last night. She lightly bit the end of her pen, thinking hard, lost in the maze of numbers.

Hiten noticed her from the corner of his eye. She wasn’t writing anymore. Her gaze had fallen, her shoulders were slumped. For a moment, she looked… defeated.

He turned slightly and caught her eye. And then, he did something simple — he smiled.

A gentle, reassuring, almost playful smile.

Aarya blinked in surprise, but then she smiled back — small, soft, and filled with that tiny spark of courage. She picked her pen up again and began to write.

And in that quiet exam hall, their shared glance said everything words couldn’t: you got this.

---

By noon, the bell rang. The room erupted in sighs and chatter as pens dropped and papers shuffled. The tension dissolved in laughter and relief.

Outside the classroom, Hiten and Aarya walked side by side, sunlight falling through the half-winter clouds.

“How was it?” he asked, stretching his arms.

“Pretty good!” she replied confidently. “You?”

“Let’s just say your teachings might’ve saved me this time.”

Aarya smirked. “See? I’m the real tutor here.”

“Right, the one who forgot her geometry box twice.”

“Hey! That was one time— okay, two times— but it doesn’t count!”

Their laughter echoed through the school gate, carrying that sense of freedom only students after exams can feel.

---

The days that followed blurred into a quiet rhythm — studying, laughing, eating, repeating.

Every evening, Aarya arrived at Hiten’s place. They’d spread out their notebooks, tease each other over silly mistakes, and after hours of studying, he’d always say the same line —

“Let’s do one last question… and then you can sleep.”

She would agree and hiten already knowing how this ended every evening.

She’d solve half the problem, yawn, and slowly rest her head on his shoulder.

And he’d look down, smile faintly, and whisper,

“Well prepared, Aarya. You’ll score great.”

It became their little ritual — study, treat, sleep. And before they knew it, the exams were over.

---

The last paper felt lighter than air. When the bell rang, everyone cheered like they had been freed from a lifetime sentence.

Aarya threw her hands up. “Finally! No more papers, no more formulas, no more diagrams!”

Hiten laughed. “Until next term.”

She shot him a mock glare. “Don’t ruin my moment.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, raising his hands in surrender. “How about a post-exam celebration?”

“Where?”

He tilted his head toward the street. “Where else? Our café.”

---

Their usual spot — corner table, soft music, the smell of freshly brewed coffee blending with laughter and chatter around. Aarya’s hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she looked more relaxed than she had in weeks.

“So,” Hiten said, sipping his coffee, “how’d you think you did overall?”

“I think I did fine,” she said, stirring her drink. “Except maybe… chemistry.”

“Yeah, chemistry was tough.”

Aarya grinned. “Not our chemistry though.”

Hiten rolled his eyes, half smiling. “You’re so proud of that line, aren’t you?”

“Obviously.”

They both laughed quietly, the kind of laugh that came easy now.

After finishing her meal, Aarya leaned back and said with a grin,

“Café’s food was pretty good… but where’s my treat?”

Hiten raised an eyebrow. “This was it, wasn’t it?”

She crossed her arms. “That was the exam treat. Where’s my hardwork treat? I want pudding!”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Fine. You’ve worked hard, so here’s the deal. Let’s go to my house. You can rest a bit, I’ll make pudding. And—”

He smirked slightly. “There’s a surprise waiting for you too.”

Her eyes lit up instantly. “Really? Let’s go!!”

---

The evening light glowed softly through the windows as they entered. Hiten placed his bag aside and started arranging the bed.

“This bed…” Aarya said, looking at it nostalgically, “it has so many memories.”

“Yeah,” Hiten said, smiling. “But for now, just sleep, you little pudding monster.”

She squinted. “Fine, angry pudding maker.”

He chuckled. “Touché.”

They both laughed for a moment — the sound filling the quiet house with warmth.

Aarya climbed into bed and pulled the blanket halfway. Within minutes, her breathing slowed, soft and peaceful.

---

He stirred the pudding carefully, the aroma of vanilla and caramel filling the air. Every so often, his eyes drifted toward the hallway — toward her room.

When the pudding was done, he wiped his hands and quietly entered her room.

Aarya was asleep, hugging a pillow tightly, her hair falling messily over her face. The faint golden light from the kitchen touched her cheek.

Hiten stood there silently, a soft smile forming.

“She’s so pretty… good, kind… and hungry,” he whispered with a quiet laugh.

He stepped closer and gently tapped her shoulder. “Aarya, wake up. Your pudding’s ready.”

Her eyes fluttered open, sleepy and confused. But when she saw the bowl in his hand, her face brightened instantly.

“Pudding!” she said, half asleep, half delighted.

They sat together near the window, sharing the dessert.

The air was calm, their laughter soft, their hearts light.

“The exams had ended,” the narration would say,

“but somehow, this moment felt like the real reward.”

And as she leaned on his shoulder again, the spoon still in her hand, the warm evening wrapped around them like a soft, silent hug.

---